Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-11-30
BILL BRAZZLETON,


the Arizona Highwaymen."
Arizona Correspondence New York World
Bill was nearly thirty years old be-
fore he went into the business of rob-
bling stage coaches. He was possessed
of unusual natural sense, had read
some and knew g. good deal about the
world. 1t may be said with the ut.
most truth that he reflected credit up
on his profession. His robberies were
all perpetrated in the most approved
manner, and with little or no danger
to his victims, beyond the loss of
their valuables. He was the first and
only man In Arizona who ever robbed
astage-coach alone, and in this partic-
ular he surpassed even the daring of
the two men who SHIELD up" the train
on the Southern Pacific few weeks
ago. Brazzleton never had an assist
ant in any of his robberies, and, so far
as known, never made a con6dant OF
but one man, and this man finally be-
trayed him to tbeposse Of law officers
by whom he was killed. Heonce robbed
a stage containing seven passengers,
all of whom were prepared for him.
They knew of him and had
started out from Tucson thor
oushly armed. Brazzleton, no
doubt, heard of it through his con.
fdant, who was one OF the hands
at the stable where he himself had
worked in former days, and he deter
mined to give these seven men an OPP
portunity to defend themselves. He
posted himself out on the road about
twenty miles from Tucson, and about
IL O'Clock he saw the coach coming.
He was just over the brow of hill
and could not be seen by the driver or
passengers. He sat on his horse, lev
eled his rifle, and as they came over
the hill they saw both rider and gun,
and they knew at once who it was
and what it meant. He commanded
them not to move hand and they
obeyed. Their revolvers hung unused
at their sides and their rifles lay idle
in the bottom of the coach. They
knew it was death to somebody the
moment move was made, and they
sat transfxed with fear. He COM
manded them to get out one by one,
lay down their arms, stand in g. row,
and divest themselves of all their
money and valuables. This they did,
piling about $4,000 worth of treas
ure up in heap before them. They
were then told to get back in the
coach and drive on, Mr.. Brazzleton
taking possession Of everything that
had been left behind. This story
sounds incredible, but some of those
who were in the coach at the times6lll
live in this country and they verify it
to the letter. Brazzleton took par
ticular delight in this style of robbery.
1t Was a passion with him, and he
seemed to indulge it more for the
pleasure it gave him than for the
money he secured. He cared nothing
for money for it's own sake and spent
but little, as he neither drank nor
gambled.
It was no uncommon thing for him
to rob people and then return part or
all he had taken. He once rode foul
of a newspaper man who had but $40.
When Brazleton learned his business
he gave HIM back SIS, with the remark
that he wonld probably need it. He
had great regard for women and
would never rob stage coach where
any of the passengers were women. Ii
he ever killed anybody | have not
heard of it, but he was nevertheless.
the terror OF the country where he was
at large, and he was hunted for months
like g. wild beast. The sheriff of the
county in which Tucson is situated re-
solved to destroy him at all hazards,
for he was doing great injury to the
business of this part of the territory,
all travellers fearing to come this way.
Finally, after one of his robberies he
was traced by peculiar shoe on his
horse. The trailers in Arizona are the
most expert in the world. Profession
al trailers are of two classes, Indians
and Mexicans. Those who are most
in demand are Indians Of the Yuma
tribe. Many Of these can ride horse
at full gallop and follow a
trail through the bushes and
grass and over g. sandy plain.
One of these was set on the
trail of Brazzleton, and he tracked
him right into Tucson and up to the
very Stable where he had formerly
been employed. 1t was then settled
that he had an accomplice In the sta
Die. There was but one man upon
whom suspicion could fall. He was
taken out and made to confess by be-
ing hung up till he was almost dead.
He agreed to conduct the eheriff's
posse to Brazzleton's rendezvous on
condition thai they would not take
their prisoner alive. "For," said he,
eff you don't kill him, he will kill me-"
They promised compliance with the
condition, and he then said he would
have shared in any OF the plumber
BrazzIeton had taken but he had CIV
en- him information and took him
his meals. He had been compelled to
do this, and believed he would have
been killed if he had done otherwise.
He said he was to take Brazzleton
something to eat that very night, and
that if they would accompany him
they could see and kill him.
The accompIice plotted the party
out about six miles to the south